In 2025, 86 thousand young people aged 15 to 27 had a main job as self-employed without employees (zzp’er). That is 19 thousand fewer than a year earlier, a decrease of 18 percent. Among those aged 27 and older, the number of self-employed also decreased, but the decline is proportionally smaller (-4 percent). In total, the number of self-employed decreased by 62 thousand to 1.2 million.
The number of young self-employed decreases in almost all occupational classes, except in transport and logistics and in commercial professions. The decline is greatest in healthcare and welfare, with 5 thousand fewer young self-employed. This concerns caregivers, medical practice assistants, specialized nurses, social workers, and medical specialists. Also in agricultural professions, such as gardeners, horticulturists, and growers, the decline is proportionally large.
Furthermore, the number of young self-employed decreases by about 2 thousand per occupational class in creative and linguistic professions, service professions, technical professions, and ICT professions. Within the service professions, this includes employees in catering and bar staff. Among the creative and service professions, the decline mainly concerns young self-employed who are still studying. Among those aged 27 and older, the decline was greatest in technical professions (-14 thousand) and managerial professions (-12 thousand) and healthcare and welfare (-10 thousand).
The decline in the number of young self-employed fits the broader picture that companies hired fewer self-employed in 2025. From 2025 onwards, stricter enforcement applies to false self-employment: situations where a client hires someone as a self-employed person, but according to the rules it is actually employment. This occurs, for example, in healthcare, construction, technology, and platform services. The total number of young workers did increase in 2025 compared to 2024, both among young people with permanent contracts and flexible contracts.
You read the news, we collect it. A cup of coffee keeps us sharp.